Cigarette and match dispenser



.July 10, 1928. 1,677,041

" R. D. MILLS, J R

'mmm AND MATCH DISPENSER Fil ed July so, 1927 I /6 I I 1 INVENTOR. 12.. Mills J'r RNEY.

' adjacentone end of the box.

Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES ROBERT D. MILLS, JR, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

CIGARETTE AND MATCH DISPENSER.

Application filed July 30,

This invention relates to devices for dispensing matches and cigarettes simultaneously, and the general object of the invention is to provide a very simple device of this character whereby a cigarette and a match may be discharged or dispensed fl0111- a container by the downward movement of a plunger and its subsequent upward movement.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a match and cigarette dispensing machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the partition.

Referring to this drawing, it will be seen that this dispensing device comprises a box or-case, designated generally 10, which is rectangular in form. This box will be in actual practice about 6 in length, 3 in height and 3" wide, these measurements being inside measurements, it being understood,,however, that the box may be made of any dimensions which are practical.

The box 10 is provided with the lid or top 11 and this is formed with an opening which, by reason of the partition to be hereafter described, is divided to form two slots 12 and 12". Disposed below the top are the inclined false bottoms 13 and 14. The slots 12 and 12 are preferably disposed Longitudinally intersecting the slots 12 and 12 is a partition 15 which extends downward to the bottom of the box. This partition is vertically slotted at 16. Extending through the top 11 of the box 10 is a plunger 17 having a finger piece and pivot-ally engaging a lever 18. This lever extends into a slot 19' in a lifter 19 designed for the purpose of lifting a cigarette.

Attached to the lower end of this lifter 19 and extending through the slot 16 is a cross piece or cross head 20 and to this cross head attached the match lifter 21. The upper faces of the lifters 19 and 21 are each of them longitudinally grooved so as to sup.- port a cigarette thereon or a match. \Vhen these lifters 19 and 21 are lowered so that the cross piece 20 rests upon the bottom of the box, the upper edges of the lifters are respectively flush with the false bottom 13 and the false hot-tom 1 1. These false bot 1927. Serial No.'209,483.

toms are inclined downward and toward the lifter so that cigarettes or matches on the IllCllIlGCl false bot-toms will'roll downward toward the upper faces of the lifters. It w ll be seen that the lifter 19 isof the same width as the width of the slot 12, while the lifter 21 is of the same width as the width of the slot 12 so that only one cigarette or onelpiatch can pass through the openings 12 or a.

The upper end of the partition 15 is reduced in thickness, as at 22 and 23, by cutting away those faces of the partition which confront the cigarette compartment and the match compartment respectively, the bottom of eachcut-away portion being downwardly inclined. For the purpose of yieldingly supporting the lifters 19 and 21 in raised position, I provide a spring 24 which is engaged with the bottom 13 and is connected to the lever 18. For the purpose of supporting the lever 18, I provide a wire 25 whose upper end is engaged, as at 26, with the upper end of the false bottom 13 and whose lower end is formed with an eye supporting the lever 18. y The spring 24 acts to hold the levers 19and 21 in their fully raised position, but will yield to permit the plunger 17 to be forced downward and thereby allow a cigarette and a match to fall upon the lifters and be raisedby the action of the spring 2 1.

By recessing the partition 15, as at 22 and 23, any chance of one cigarette lying on top of another cigarette or one match lying on top of another match is eliminated, as by reason of these recesses a cigarette lying on top of any cigarette resting upon the concave seat at the top of the plunger will fall to either side, whereas if the partition wall extended straight upward it might be possible for one cigarette to lie on top of another and between the lower cigarette and the wall. This superposition of two cigarettes cannot occur wit-h my construction and for a like reason notmore than one match can be supported upon the match seat formed on the upper end of the lifter 21.

This device it will be seen, is very simple and thoroughly eificient for the purpose intended and may be construetedeither in a very simple or a very ornamental manner. It also forms a very good vehicle for advertisements, as advertising matter may be placed upon the top of the box or upon the sides thereof. I do not wish to be limited to the use of the plunger 17 or a lever 18 for the purpose of raising or lowering the lifters 19 and 31, as obviously other manually operable means may be provided for thispurpose but I regard this means of raising the lifters as being preferable.

\Vhile I have illustrated a construction which I have found to be particularly effective, I do not wish to be limited to this as. it is obvious that many changes might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as delined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A cigarette and match dispensing device comprising a boxlike casing a top formed adjacent one end with an opening, a partition extending downward from said opening to the bottom of the box and spaced from the lateral walls of the opening to provide a cigarette and a match discharging opening on each side of the partition, the lower portion of the partition being vertically slotted and the partition defining a match compartment and a cigarette compartment, one on each side thereof, downwardly, inclined false bottoms forming the bottoms of said compartments and having their lower endsvspaced from the partition, a cross member extending through the slot in the partition, lifters mounted upon the cross member and fitting the spaces between the lower ends of the false bottoms and the "partition and movable upward through the openings in the top of the box, each of said lifters being transversely concave upon its upper edge face, and a handle operatively connected to one of said lifters andcxtending through one wall ofthe casing, the easing being formed with an opening to permit the handle to he vertically shifted.

2. A cigarette and match dispensing device including a box, a partition extending downward through the box, the top of the box having a slot at each side of said partition and the partition defining a. match compartment on one side and a cigarette compartment on the other, downwardly inclined false bottoms to the match and cigarette compartments inclining downward toward the partition but spaced therefrom, the upper end of the partition below the top of the box being recessed and the bottom of the recess being downwardly inclined, a member mounted for vertical movement within the partition, lifters mounted on said member, one on each side of the partition, both of said lifters being longitudinally concave upon their upper faces, one of the lifters operating through the cigarette compartment and the other through the match compartment and fitting the space between the false bottom and the partition aml fitting the slots in the top of the box on each side of the partition, a spring urging the lifters to a position where their upper edges are flush with the top of the box, and means extending to the outside of the box whereby the lifters may be lowered against the action of said sprin 3. A cigarette and match dispensing device including a box, a partition extending downward through the box, the top of the box having a slot at each side of said partition and the partition defining a match compartment on one side and a cigarette compartment on the other, downwardly inclined false bottoms to the cigarette and match compartments inclining downward toward the partition but spaced therefrom, the upperend of the partition below the top of the box being recessed and the botton'rof the recess being downwardly inclined, a member mounted for vertical movement within the partition, lifters mounted on said member, one on each side of the partition, both of said lifters being longitudinally concave upon their upper faces, one of the lifters operating through the cigarette compartment and the other through the match compartment and fitting the space between the false bottom and'the partition and fitting the slots in the top of the box on each side of the partition, a lever engaged with the litters and operatively pivoted within the body of the box below the false bottom of the cigarette compartment, a spring urging said lever upward to thereby raise the lifters, and a plunger attached to said lever and extending through the box whereby the lever may be depressed against the action of the spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT D. MILLS, J a. 

